Reflective Practice - Fundamental to School Improvement and to Teacher Professionalism

A key element in the behaviour of effective teachers and leaders is the ability to reflect on their practice and improve as a result. This may involve self-reflection where professionals question their actions and examine the impact of those actions as a way of improving both. It may also involve structured reflection with others in seeking to enhance teaching and learning and leadership in their school . (LAOS 2022) This session will give participants the opportunity to develop further their appreciation of reflective practice and its benefits, personal and professional. We will discuss the following:

1..The imperative to reflect in order to learn from experience

2. How reflective practice has become the corner-stone of teacher professionalism 

3. How reflective practice helps us live our educational values in our work with consequent improvement in well-being and job satisfaction

4. How a school culture of reflection can lead to continuous improvement

Learning Outcomes

1. A renewed interest in reflective practice as a way of managing the challenges of teaching

2. An opportunity to look again at the focus on reflection as outlined in Cosán and in LAOS (2022) with possible consequent changes to practice

3. Knowledge of how reflective practice has informed initial teacher education and the practice of teaching internationally, with reference to the literature